BJD stages protest demanding 27 pc quota for SEBC students

OPPOSITION BJD on Wednesday staged a demonstration outside the Raj Bhavan here demanding 27 per cent reservation for students belonging to the Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBCs) in Odisha.

- PBD BUREAU/PTI

A BJD delegation, which included MPs, MLAs and senior leaders, besides students, met Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and submitted a memorandum seeking his intervention to protect the constitutional rights of the OBCs, who are referred to as SEBCs in Odisha.

The agitators staged the protest rally after the state's BJP government last week announced 11.25 per cent reservation for students in the SEBC category in higher education, excluding medical, engineering and technical courses.

Both BJD and the Congress are opposing the state government's decision and demanding 27 per cent quota, instead of 11.25 per cent reservation for the SEBC students in higher education, and inclusion of medical, engineering and technical courses.

The ruling BJP on Tuesday stated that the 11.25 per cent quota will be extended to SEBC students in medical and engineering courses as well. However, it is yet to be implemented by the state government.